[Interview] Suchmos
First ever 2-day concert at Yokohama Arena! Six people create something special
Suchmos's biggest ever nationwide hall tour "YOU'VE GOT THE WORLD TOUR" that started in March, mobilizing 20,000 people, was too hot. Everyone there was intoxicated by the superb groove, swaying their bodies, and enjoying the music to their heart's content. The same goes for the members. At each performance, they "fed" on the energy released by the fans, and their performance became more and more heated. We talked to YONCE (Wed), (Sat), November 24th and (Sun).
KCEEI felt this on this tour, but I think we're able to give a performance that far exceeds the expectations of the people who come to our concerts expecting something. We feel an exhilaration that we would never feel in our daily lives, but we also know how to control it by not going overboard and persevering and focusing only on the music. We can all go at it when we need to, and I think those moments are also a strength of the band.
The six of them seem to be committed to their live shows with a strong feeling that live performances are the place to prove their existence. However, they do not compromise on their sound, which evolves further with live performances. The mini-album "THE ASHTRAY," which also conveys their fulfillment as a band, is a masterpiece that shows the six of them facing music purely, and the natural image of a band that plays the music they want to do now in a straightforward manner. This "super" mini-album contains popular songs such as "808," which was aired extensively as a commercial song for Honda's "VEZEL," and "VOLT-AGE," which was chosen as the "2018 NHK Soccer Theme," and gives a sense of solidity and overwhelming coolness.
KCEEThe range of sound has expanded, but the number of sounds and the density of the sounds have decreased. As with previous works, this time there is no impurity in each sound, so I think each song has a high level of purity, with an uninterrupted emotional thread and groove from beginning to end.
The music and words seem to have gone beyond the boundaries of the genre and have become more free. In this work, YONCE's cynical words against society and the wrong trends in the world are lined up, saying, "I want to be someone who always listens to the 'small voices'. I think that if we don't listen to those voices, the world will not become more constructive and will not move in a positive direction." This is a strong message song that stands out. It's "ONE DAY IN AVENUE".
YONCEWhen I let out all the things I was feeling, it became a song that I couldn't sing irresponsibly. There was a line in a song by a band called a flood of circle that I've loved since I was in high school that said, "Songs are tattoos," and that really hit home for me. My songs and the words I write are engraved on my body, so I thought I couldn't go against that. The lyrics of "Monkey Business" are full of contradictions, and rock bands are also partly complicit in that "monkey business." I think we're obsessed with the charm of the "conflict" that comes from that. The word "THE ASHTRAY" was thought up by bassist HSU, and it represents the amount of cigarette ash we burn when we gather together as six to write a song, including this one, and when we each face a song somewhere, to put our soul into something.
With "THE ASHTRAY" in hand, Suchmos will hold a two-day solo live concert "Suchmos THE LIVE YOKOHAMA" at Yokohama Arena in November. It's a good idea to see Suchmos' live performance now. You'll experience a "beautiful moment" you've never felt before and be able to reaffirm the greatness of music.
TAIHEIWhen these six of us make music, something special is born, it moves people's hearts, and on our last tour, 20,000 people came to see us, and it was the most amazing thing that happened in our musical lives. At Yokohama Arena, we and the people who came will be able to see an even better view.
YONCEEach and every person has their own thoughts, but somehow they gather in the same place, support the same artists, and listen to and spend their time in their own way. I feel that what we are doing is not wrong, and I am overcome with emotion every time a live performance ends, thinking that we are able to make a kind of precious thing happen through the medium of ourselves. I think it is a very beautiful relationship.
profile
Satimos
Formed in 2013. The members are YONCE (Vo), HSU (Ba), OK (Dr), TAI KI NG (Gt), KCEE (Dj), and TAIHE (I Key), all of whom grew up in Kanagawa. They will release their mini album "THE ASHTRAY" on June 20th.
Performance information
Suchmos THE LIVE YOKOHAMA
11/24 (Sat) 18:00 Yokohama Arena
11/25 (Sun) 18:00 Yokohama Arena
Interview and text by Hisakatsu Tanaka
Composition/Reprinted from the July 15th issue of Monthly Law Ticket Editorial Department